Our member centres
Rape Crisis England & Wales is the membership organisation for 39 Rape Crisis centres in England and Wales.
These centres deliver specialist services to women and girls affected by sexual violence and abuse in England and Wales.
Some of them also provide services for men and boys.
Why should you contact one of our centres?
In the video below, Magdalena Sek, centre coordinator at Leicester Rape Crisis, explains why contacting your local Rape Crisis centre could be an important step in helping you to find support.
Who can go to a Rape Crisis centre?
Rape Crisis centres provide support and services for women affected by all forms of sexual violence and abuse, not just rape.
This includes support and services for women who:
- Have recently experienced rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse or another type of sexual violence.
- Experienced rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse or another type of sexual violence years or decades ago.
- Are adult victims or survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
- Have experienced sexual harassment.
- Have been sexually exploited.
- Are thinking about reporting something to the police, whether it happened recently or a long time ago.
- Don’t want to report anything to the police.
- Aren’t sure how to talk about what happened to them.
This list isn’t complete – if your experience of sexual violence or abuse doesn’t fit here, we are still here for you.
Many centres also support young women and girls, as well as men and boys.
What services are offered?
Counselling
Most Rape Crisis centres offer free one-to-one counselling to women who have experienced rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and other types of sexual violence.
Some also provide counselling for young women, girls, men and boys.
ISVA/advocacy
Many Rape Crisis centres provide specialist services for people who want to, or are thinking about, reporting to the police.
These specialist staff are called advocacy workers or ISVAs.
Helplines
Rape Crisis England & Wales runs the national 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line, a free phone and online chat service for anyone aged 16+ who has been affected by sexual violence, abuse or harassment of any kind.
Some of our member centres also offer helplines that provide anonymous, confidential emotional support by phone, email or webchat.
Other services
Many of our centres also provide different types of support and therapy. This could include art therapy, mindfulness or emotional support.
These might take place in one-to-one sessions or in a group.
Get in touch with your local centre to find out more.